State Authorization

The US Department of Education requires that any institution offering distance education programs to students outside of its home state must acquire authorization from the states in which students reside. Regulations vary from state to state.

Loyola University Chicago has been approved by Illinois to participate in the National Council for State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. As a participating ‌institution, LUC may offer online programming to students in other SARA member states without seeking authorization in that state.

The list below summarizes Loyola's authorization status in all states plus the District of Columbia, indicating which online courses and programs are available to students from each state. The list below also notes which states are SARA members, indicating all online courses and programs are available in that state unless restrictions due to licensure or other issues have been noted.

Prospective Students: If the online program that you are considering requires a professional license in your home state, we urge you to contact the appropriate licensing agency in your state for guidance before embarking on an academic program located outside of your state.

Alabama—Alabama is a SARA member state, therefore LUC will be able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Alabama.

Alaska—Alaska is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Alaska.

Arizona—Arizona is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Arizona.

Arkansas—Arkansas is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Arkansas.

California—Loyola University Chicago is not required to obtain approval or licensure by the State of California and may offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of California.

Colorado—Colorado is a SARA member state, and therefore Loyola University Chicago is not required to obtain authorization in Colorado for online degree programs, certificate programs, and courses.

However, due to the nature of the clinical affiliation agreement, in the School of Nursing, students cannot participate in clinical rotations in the state of Colorado. Therefore the following online programs will not be available to residents of Colorado:

Connecticut—Loyola University Chicago is not required to obtain authorization from the Connecticut Office of Higher Education and may offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to Connecticut residents.

Delaware—Delaware is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Delaware.

District of Columbia—The District of Columbia is a SARA member, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of the District of Columbia.

Florida—Loyola University Chicago is not required to be licensed by the Commission for Independent Education of the Florida Department of Education and may therefore offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Florida.

Georgia—Georgia is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Georgia.

Hawaii—Hawaii is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Hawaii.

Idaho—Idaho is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Idaho.

Illinois—Loyola University Chicago is fully accredited by the Higher Education Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and therefore may offer all degree programming to residents of Illinois.

Indiana—Indiana is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Indiana.

Iowa—Iowa is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Iowa.

Kansas—Kansas is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Kansas.

Kentucky —Loyola University Chicago is not required to obtain authorization by the State of Kentucky and may offer selected online degree programs, certificate programs, and online courses to Kentucky residents.

Due to restrictions on certain online programs, however, the following programs that require a field experience will not be available to residents of Kentucky:

Louisiana—Louisiana is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Louisiana.

Maine—Maine is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Maine.

Maryland—Maryland is a SARA member state, therefore LUC will be able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Maryland.

Massachusetts—Loyola University Chicago is not required to apply for authorization from the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and may therefore offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Massachusetts.

Michigan—Michigan is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Michigan.

Minnesota—Minnesota is a SARA member state, and therefore Loyola University Chicago is not required to obtain authorization in Minnesota for online degree programs, certificate programs, and courses.

However, due to Nursing faculty requirements, the following online programs will not be available to residents of Minnesota:

Mississippi—Mississippi is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is authorized to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Mississippi.

However, due to restrictions on certain programs, we will not be offering online programs from the School of Nursing that lead to licensure. Therefore the following online programs will not be available to residents of Mississippi:

Missouri—Missouri is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Missouri.

Montana—Montana is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Montana.

Nebraska—Nebraska is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Nebraska.

Nevada—Nevada is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Nevada.

New Hampshire—New Hampshire is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is authorized to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs, and online courses to residents of New Hampshire.

New Jersey—Loyola University Chicago is not required to obtain licensure from the New Jersy Commission on Higher Education and may offer all online degree programs, certificate programs, and online courses to New Jersey residents.

New Mexico—New Mexico is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of New Mexico.

New York—Loyola University Chicago is not required to apply for permission to operate in New York and therefore can offer all online degree and certificate programs with the exceptions of:

North Carolina—North Carolina is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of North Carolina.

North Dakota—North Dakota is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of North Dakota.

Ohio—Ohio is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Ohio.

Oklahoma—Oklahoma is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Oklahoma.

Oregon—Oregon is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Oregon.

Pennsylvania—Loyola University Chicago is registered in Pennsylvania as an out-of-state distance education provider and may offer all online degree programs, certificate programs, and online courses to Pennsylvania residents.

Rhode Island—Rhode Island is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Rhode Island.

South Carolina—South Carolina is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of South Carolina.

South Dakota—South Dakota is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of South Dakota.

Tennessee—Tennessee is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Tennessee.

Texas—Texas is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Texas.

Utah—Utah is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Utah.

Vermont—Vermont is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Vermont.

Virginia—Virginia is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Virginia.

However, due to restrictions on certain programs we will not be offering online programs from the School of Nursing that lead to licensure. Therefore the following online programs will not be available to residents of Virginia:

Washington—Washington is a SARA member state, and therefore Loyola University Chicago is not required to obtain authorization in Washington for online degree programs, certificate programs, and courses.

However, due to State Nursing Commission requirements, the following online programs will not be available to residents of Washington:

West Virginia—West Virginia is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of West Virginia.

Wisconsin—Loyola University Chicago has been granted authorization by the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board and may offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to Wisconsin residents.

Wyoming—Wyoming is a SARA member state, therefore LUC is able to offer all online degree programs, certificate programs and online courses to residents of Wyoming.